About

Father Jay A. Finelli is a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.  He was ordained to the diaconate on June 1, 1991 and to the priesthood on June 13, 1992 at the Cathedral of SS Peter & Paul in Providence by Bishop Louis E. Gelineau. He has served in several parishes and was appointed pastor of the Church of the Holy Ghost in Tiverton on July 1, 2002.  Fr. Finelli is an avid Live Steam railroad enthusiast, and model railroader.  He has built seven Live Steam locomotives and is a member of the Waushakum Live Steamers in Holliston, MA.  Father is “insane Mac addict” and technophile.  In September of 1995, Father entered the digital age, got online and within a week began building websites.  His first two websites were for the Diocese of Providence and his second parish assignment.  Since that time, Father has built a number of websites.  Ten years later, almost to the day, Fr. Finelli made his next leap in the digital revolution.  On September 1, 2005, Father began hosting the iPadre Catholic Podcast and has produced over 398 episodes since that time.

Father Finelli also serves or has served in the following manner:

  • Board Member: Meet-the-Father Ministry – 1995 to present
  • Chaplain & Board Member: S.Q.P.N. – 2010 to 2014
  • Pastor: Holy Ghost Church – 2002 to present
  • Chaplain K of C #1528 – E. Providence – 1997 to 2002
  • Chaplain K of C #4753 – Tiverton – 2002 to present
  • Invested into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem on November 2, 2018
    – Promoted to Knight Commander – November 4, 2022

You can find Fr. Finelli’s podcasts, blog, videos, and links to his social media platforms at iPadre.net.

Coat of Arms of Father Jay Anthony Finelli, KCHS (Revised: 8/1/2025)

Father’s Finelli’s Coat of Arms

 For many years, Father Jay Anthony Finelli desired to create a personal coat of arms that would reflect the deepest truths of his life, vocation, and priestly identity. Through the skill and collaboration of heraldic artist Enzo Parrino, that vision has now been beautifully realized.

At the center of the design is Father Finelli’s motto, taken from the Gospel of St. John:
“Via, Veritas, Vita” — “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jn 14:6).
These words express the path of every Christian soul and, in a particular way, the mission of the priest — to walk in Christ, proclaim His truth, and share His life with others.

The background of the shield features the colors red and azure, symbolizing love, faith, and mission — the foundational virtues upon which his priesthood is built.

At the heart of the shield is a monstrance containing the Most Blessed Sacrament, signifying that Christ in the Holy Eucharist is the center of Father Finelli’s life and ministry — the source of his strength and the reason for his vocation.

On the heraldic right (viewer’s left) appear three silver crosses, drawn from the arms of the Diocese of Providence, where he was born, raised, and serves as a priest. They represent his fidelity and dedication to the local Church.

On the heraldic left (viewer’s right) is a star, representing the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom Father Finelli honors as his spiritual mother. It is she who led him to his priestly vocation and continues to accompany him through her maternal intercession.

At the base of the shield are two silver waves, symbolizing his Catholic faith — deep, dynamic, and ever flowing — as well as his beloved home state, Rhode Island, the Ocean State.

Each element of the coat of arms is a reflection of gratitude — to Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist; to the Blessed Virgin Mary; to the Diocese of Providence; and to the faith that has formed and sustained his vocation.

Some of Father Finelli’s websites: